Nairobi Hawkers Declare War Against Sakaja’s Ban with Planned Protests

Nairobi County is staring at potential protests next week after hawkers threatened to take over the central business district to protest against the ban on hawking imposed by the governor.

On Monday, January 6, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja issued a notice to all hawkers imposing a ban on hawking activities along walkways within the CBD.

In the new directives, the county government is allowing hawking only from 4pm to 10pm Monday to Friday, with the designated zones stretching from Tom Mboya street to Kirinyaga Road.

Hawkers, however, have rejected this ban and are threatening to take to the streets to oppose it. The hawkers’ association has vowed to march to City Hall to demonstrate against the directive, demanding the right to conduct business without restrictions. 

“We have families and responsibilities to cater to, that is why we are requesting to be allowed to conduct business even if it’s in the basements. We will organise ourselves and not enter the road. Just let us continue trading here,” Dorcus Wairimu, one of the traders, pleaded.

According to the hawkers, if they are removed from CBD, they don’t have anywhere to go, especially with the high rate of unemployment.

On their part, the Nairobi Business Community is in support of the move by Sakaja. They argue that hawkers are hindering their businesses.

“Hawkers are all over, you can hardly find a space to walk on. Customers avoid coming to the CBD because of the hawkers forcing us to opt for deliveries. This places our businesses in jeopardy, yet we pay for the license,” Stephen Wambiya, Chairperson of the Luthuli Business Community, said.

“We want to thank the governor for this move,” Wambiya continued.

According to the business community, they revealed that they recognise the efforts of hawkers and have no bad blood with them, but it would be wise for them to listen to the governor and relocate to the designated areas.

“We are the ones paying for the rest, and our businesses suffer because of these hawkers. We urge the governor to give them a specific place where it will be branded as theirs,” Andrew Oswago another businessman, said.

To ensure that the hawkers were following the laws, the governor inspected major streets on Friday.

As of Friday, major corridors and walkways along Moi Avenue and Upper CBD were free of hawkers, reflecting the immediate impact of the county’s enforcement efforts.